Burgundy in the sky, 63 floors up
Financial District · New York · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 8, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Saga’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You step out of the elevator on the 63rd floor of a 1932 Art Deco tower and the wine list lands on the table like a brick — in the best way. Eight hundred to twelve hundred bottles deep, with Burgundy and Italy doing the heavy lifting, this is a list that means business. The skyline view is doing a lot of work, but so is whoever built this cellar.
The Burgundy section alone could keep a serious drinker busy for months — Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Henri Jayer, Armand Rousseau, Domaine Leroy, and Domaine Leflaive all show up, which is less a wine list and more a who's-who of the Côte d'Or. Italy holds its own with Giacomo Conterno Barolo, Gaja Barbaresco, and Sassicaia anchoring a strong peninsula contingent. There's a nod to California with Opus One for the table that needs something familiar, and Guigal's La Landonne keeps the Rhône corner honest. Gaps exist — the New World outside California feels thin and there's no obvious entry-level discovery tier — but at this altitude, that's probably by design.
Twenty to thirty-five options by the glass is genuinely impressive for a program this prestige-forward, and the price range of $18–$60 a pour means you can explore without committing to a four-figure bottle. We'd love to know how frequently the selection rotates, but the sheer count suggests there's something interesting happening beyond the usual Sancerre-and-Cab defaults.
Guigal La Landonne — $80+ entry
In a list dominated by three-figure Burgundy, La Landonne is a Northern Rhône monster — Syrah at its most serious — that often comes in under the price of a village-level Gevrey from the same list. It's the move for anyone who wants a power wine without paying DRC prices.
Giacomo Conterno Barolo
Everyone at the table is gravitating toward the Burgundy, which means the Conterno Barolo is sitting there quietly being one of the greatest expressions of Nebbiolo on the planet. Traditionalist winemaking, serious aging potential, and it still gets overlooked when Rousseau is on the same page.
Opus One
Opus One is a fine wine that has been marked up to fine-dining trophy prices everywhere it appears, and Saga is no exception. At this altitude — literally and figuratively — you can do so much better with the same dollars pointed at anything in the Burgundy or Italian sections.
Armand Rousseau Gevrey-Chambertin + Dry-aged duck
Rousseau's Gevrey has that savory, earthy backbone and iron-tinged red fruit that mirrors dry-aged duck perfectly — the gaminess of the bird and the structure of the wine find each other and neither backs down. It's the pairing that justifies the elevator ride.
The Bottom Line
Saga is a serious wine destination wearing a fine-dining restaurant as its disguise — the cellar punches at grand cru level and the views make the steep markup sting a little less. Send your most wine-obsessed friend here and tell them to order the duck.
NoHo · New York · Italian
Il Buco has one of the most compelling Italian wine lists in New York City — deep, principled, and staffed by people who actually care. The markup is real, so budget accordingly, but this is a room worth splurging in.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · New York · Steakhouse
STK Downtown is a place where people order Champagne to celebrate, not to drink — and the wine program is built accordingly. If you're here for the vibe and someone else is paying, pop the Dom and enjoy it; if you actually care about what's in your glass, you're in the wrong room.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown · New York · Upscale Seafood & Steakhouse
Three happy hour wines do not a wine program make. Ocean Prime is a place you eat well and drink safely — but if wine is a priority, this list will let you down before the bread basket arrives.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Midtown · New York · Steakhouse
STK Midtown is a great place to see and be seen, but the wine list is there to pad the check, not to excite you. If you're here for the experience, lean on the cocktails or grab a glass of Bonanza at the bar — don't expect the bottle list to reward any real curiosity.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown West · New York · Russian-American
The Russian Tea Room treats wine as an afterthought dressed up in Champagne flutes — five famous labels at punishing prices with no range, no by-the-glass program, and no apparent curiosity about wine beyond what looks impressive on a table. Go for the spectacle, order the caviar, but don't come here expecting a wine list.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
David Burke Tavern's list is a Chardonnay lover's comfort zone with a solid sparkling section propping up the top — but the narrow focus and steep pricing mean you're paying for familiarity, not discovery. Send a friend here if they want California whites and a glass of Champagne; send them somewhere else if they want to explore.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Baltimore · American
Give the international and local sections a look before defaulting to Burgundy. Sula at $70 and Old Westminster at $90 offer different budget options. These are posted bottle prices, not guaranteed stock; confirm availability. This menu guide doesn't rate service or cellar conditions.
· Key West · American
Caroline's Café is not a wine destination, and it's not trying to be — the identical pricing across all five house labels makes that abundantly clear. If you're in Key West looking for something interesting in your glass, keep walking; if you just need a cold pour of Chardonnay with your lunch and aren't asking questions, $8 gets you there without drama.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Kerns · Portland · American
Noble Rot is the rare restaurant wine program that would hold up as a standalone wine bar — deep list, sharp staff, fair prices, and a view that makes the whole experience feel earned. Send your friends here. Send yourself here.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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